Combined tooth cleaning and gum massaging device



Nov- 24, 1931- J. P. BELL ET AL 7 1,333,555

COMBINED TOOTH CLEANING GUM MASSAGING DEVICE Filed July 9, 1930 PatentedNov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE JOHN P. BELL, OF BALTIMORE,AND JOHN H. GUNTHER, OF ARIBUTUS, MARYLAND COMBINED TOOTH CLEANING ANDGUM MASSAGING DEVICE Application filed July 9, 1930. Serial No. 466,833.

Our invention is a novel combined tooth cleaning and gum massagingdevice, and the principal object thereof is to provide a simple,eflicient, and practical device which will 5 not only clean the surfacesof the teeth but will also massage the gums and clean the in- ,terdentalspaces between the teeth, the device being so designed that all parts ofthe teeth and gums not accessible to the ordinary toothbrush may bereadily engaged by the device and cleaned,

It is well known that the ordinary toothbrush of the bristle type willnot reach all parts of the teeth particularly distal surfaces .of theposterior teeth upon which food and mucin collect, nor will the ordinarytoothbrush properly clean the mesio or distal surfaces of teeth forminga gap where I a tooth has been extracted, the reason being that thebristles merely bend across the teeth under pressure instead offollowing the contour of'the teeth. Our novel device provides ayieldable upper body having one set of parallel wedge-shaped ribsdisposed longitudinally of the handle, and another set of parallelsubstantially semi-circular ribs with pointed ends disposed transverselyof i the handle and will fit into and take the shape of any interdentalspace or gap into which the device is inserted.

We will explain our invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrates several practical embodiments thereof toenable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and willsummarize in the claims the novel and essential features of constructionfor which Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing a modified form of device.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views showing various uses of the device.

As shown, our preferred form of combined 5 tooth brushing and gummassaging device comprises an elastic or yielding body member having abore 2 for a handle 3 and a series of parallel substantiallysemi-circularly shaped ribs 1 integral with the body and extending fromone side of the body as shown in Fig. 1, the ribs 1 being disposedtransversely of the bore 2. Bore 2 is adapted to receive the end of ahandle 3 which is provided with a collar 3a adjacent one end, and a knob36 on the outer end adapted to yieldably engage a recess 2a in the outerend of the bore 2 whereby the body will be yieldably retained on thehandle 3 between the parts 3a and 3b and may be easily removed therefromwhen it is desired to interchange the body. Preferably the ends of theribs 1 are pointed as at 1a (see Figs. 1 and 3) for the purposehereinafter set forth, and the ribs 1 (3 being shown) which extendtransversely of the handle 3 are thinned at their outer edges.

Diametrically opposite the ribs 1. and formed integrally with the bodyis a series of longitudinally disposed ribs 4 (3 being shown) extendingslightly beyond the outer 30 surfaces of the end ribs 1, the ends 4a ofribs 4 being angularly disposed with respect to the plane of the outerribs 1 for the purpose hereinafter set forth, whereby ribs 4 are formedsubstantially wedge-shaped with the Wider portion of the ribs outermost,as indicated in Fig. 2. The ribs 4 are also thinned adjacent their outeredges as clearly indicated in the drawings.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 differs from that shown in Figs. 1 and2 with respect to the number of ribs 1 (five being shown in saidmodification), and also differs with respect to the shape of the ribs 4:one end of which is rounded as at 41) instead of being truly wedgeshaped, and the modified form shown in Fig. 5 would necessarily besomewhat longer and larger than that shown in Fig. 1. 4

The wedge shape of ribs 4 in our device is an important feature, for asillustrated in Fig. 3 when the device is reciprocated sideways in a gapformed by extraction of a tooth or teeth, as shown in the position A theribs 4 will enter the gap and as the ribs 4 are wedge-shaped the outercorners thereof will contact with the adjacent faces of the teeth attheir gum lines and effectively clean all matter from the faces of theteeth as the device is moved transversely of the row of teeth. At

the same time the outer arcuate edges of the ribs 4 will clean thesurface'of the gum lying in the gap thereby cleaning both the mesio anddistal surfaces of the adjacent teeth as well as the gum at thepointwhere one or more teeth have been extracted.

In the position B. indicated in Fig. 3 the edges of the ribs 4 engagethe distal surfaces of the rearmost teeth at the gum line andeffectively clean all portions of such surface.

The transversely disposed disks 1 may be used, as illustrated at C inFig. 3, to clean all surfaces of the gums and also the surfaces of theteeth. For cleaning the interdental space at cervix of the gum linehowever the device may be rotated through an angle of 90 to bring thesharply pointed ends 1a of the transverse ribs 1 into position to engageor fit into such interdental spaces at the gum line as shown in F igs.-6 and 8, and by reason of the sharp pointed ends the same will enterbetween the teethand effectively clean the interdental spaces of teethand cause a healthy circulation.

In Fig. 4 the transverse ribs 1, in position D, are used for massagingunder the tongue and the gums at the lingual surface of the teeth. Inposition E the transverse ribs 1 are shown operating upon the oeelusalsurface of the lower molars. In Fig. 7 the longitudinal ribs 4 are shownin position for cleaning the interdental spaces at the lingual surfaceof the upper and lower teeth.

We have not herein attempted to illustrate every position and use of ourdevice, as it Wlll be obvious that every portion of the gums and teethwhich are not accessible with an ordinary tooth brush may be readilymas- Y saged or brushed leaving'the gums and teeth clean and healthy.Actual tests have been made to prove that only 3 ounce pressure can bemade with the bristles in a sweeping motion. It takes 5 pound pressurein the interdental spaces and surrounding tissue to bring about ahealthy circulation. Heavy disposed assasas changes may be made thereinwithin the scope of the claims.

We claim 1. A device of the character specified, comprising a yieldingbody-having a handle; a series of flexible segmental ribs on said bodydisposed parallel with the handle; and a sec- 0nd series of flexibleribs disposed trans- 'versely of said handle; the ribs in each seriesbeing substantially the same size.

2. A device of the character specified comprising a ielding body havinga handle; a series of exible segmental parallel ribs on said bodydisposed longitudinally of said handle; and a second series of flexibleparallel ribs disposed transversely of said handle;

said longitudinally disposed ribs being substantially wedge-shaped withtheir wider portions outermost.

'3. A device of the character specified comprising a yielding bodyhaving a handle; a series of flexible parallel ribs on said bodydisposed longitudinally of. said handle; and a second series of flexibleparallel ribs disposed transversely of said handle; said transverse ribsbeing substantially semi-circular and having their outer ends pointed.

4. A device of the character specified 'comprising a yielding'bodyhaving a handle; a series of flexible parallel ribs on said bodydisposed longitudinally of said handle; and a second series of flexibleparallel ribs disposed transversely of said handle; saidlongitudinalribs being substantially wedgeshaped with their wider ortions outermost,and said transverse ribs eing substantially semi-circular and havingtheir outer-ends w prising a yielding body having a bore; a;

handle in said bore; a series of flexible substantially wedge-shapedribs on said body ries of exible substantially semi-circular ribs onsaid body disposed transversely of said bore; the ribs in each seriesbeing substantially the same size.

JOHN P. BELL. JOHN H. GUNTHER.

arallel with said bore; and a se-' pressure can be used with this devicewhich hardens the tissue and causes healthy condi-.

is much smaller than an We do not limit our invention to the exact formsshown in the drawing forobviously

